Jayse Sato

Jayse Sato has been a sushi chef for 10 years on Maui and in Oregon. In 2014, he moved back to Maui and partnered with a friend to open Rua. The business closed in 2016, but Sato was just beginning and wanted to show Maui what he was capable of.

This year, he opened Umi, where as chef-owner he makes out-of-the-box sushi, often incorporating unusual ingredients (for sushi) into his rolls. While purists may frown on his unorthodox ways, he is proud of his sushi and continues to devise inventive combinations.